XPost: alt.comp.os.windows-11

Another alternative to running Windows is to get a Chromebook. These
are purpose-built for many business/educational needs, and because
they run on a Linux kernel, there is even the option (officially
provided by Google now, I believe) to put on a regular Linux distro side-by-side with the locked-down Chrome OS.

This review <https://www.zdnet.com/article/this-lenovo-chromebook-easily-replaced-my-windows-laptop-for-work-and-i-cant-go-back/>
is interesting not just because the title says they are so impressed
they can’t be bothered going back to Windows, but also note that the
laptop in question is running an ARM chip.

Now, the claim that this is “the first ARM chip to appear in a
Chromebook” is wrong, I’m pretty sure. I recall some ARM-based
offerings in the early days of ChromeOS, which I think disappeared
because they didn’t (at the time) offer any compelling advantage over x86-based machines.

Note also that this ARM chip is from one of the dozens (hundreds?) of
ARM chip makers that are not Qualcomm. These chips run Linux fine, but
as for Windows-on-ARM, I wouldn’t waste my time.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

XPost: alt.comp.os.windows-11

On Tue, 7/1/2025 8:44 PM, Lawrence D'Oliveiro wrote:

Another alternative to running Windows is to get a Chromebook. These
are purpose-built for many business/educational needs, and because
they run on a Linux kernel, there is even the option (officially
provided by Google now, I believe) to put on a regular Linux distro side-by-side with the locked-down Chrome OS.

This review <https://www.zdnet.com/article/this-lenovo-chromebook-easily-replaced-my-windows-laptop-for-work-and-i-cant-go-back/>
is interesting not just because the title says they are so impressed
they can’t be bothered going back to Windows, but also note that the
laptop in question is running an ARM chip.

Now, the claim that this is “the first ARM chip to appear in a Chromebook” is wrong, I’m pretty sure. I recall some ARM-based
offerings in the early days of ChromeOS, which I think disappeared
because they didn’t (at the time) offer any compelling advantage over x86-based machines.

Note also that this ARM chip is from one of the dozens (hundreds?) of
ARM chip makers that are not Qualcomm. These chips run Linux fine, but
as for Windows-on-ARM, I wouldn’t waste my time.

You can install ChromeOS Flex on an old Intel laptop,
if you want ChromeOS. At some point, you would enter
your GMail address, to gain access to the Play Store or
something.

That does not work on desktops, especially using the
NVidia plugin cards. It is generally limited to iGPU
devices.

But basically, you're just sitting there looking at a browser,
so it's not exactly exciting.

If using ChromeOS Flex or an older copy of NeverWare CloudReady,
use a storage device that doesn't have anything else on it. You can
get cheap SATA SSDs for less than $50. And use that as your
test donkey drive.

Paul

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

XPost: alt.comp.os.windows-11

On 02/07/25 6:14 am, Lawrence D'Oliveiro wrote:

Another alternative to running Windows is to get a Chromebook. These
are purpose-built for many business/educational needs, and because
they run on a Linux kernel, there is even the option (officially
provided by Google now, I believe) to put on a regular Linux distro side-by-side with the locked-down Chrome OS.

This review <https://www.zdnet.com/article/this-lenovo-chromebook-easily-replaced-my-windows-laptop-for-work-and-i-cant-go-back/>
is interesting not just because the title says they are so impressed
they can’t be bothered going back to Windows, but also note that the
laptop in question is running an ARM chip.

Now, the claim that this is “the first ARM chip to appear in a Chromebook” is wrong, I’m pretty sure. I recall some ARM-based
offerings in the early days of ChromeOS, which I think disappeared
because they didn’t (at the time) offer any compelling advantage over x86-based machines.

Note also that this ARM chip is from one of the dozens (hundreds?) of
ARM chip makers that are not Qualcomm. These chips run Linux fine, but
as for Windows-on-ARM, I wouldn’t waste my time.

Except for Android app integration, Chrome OS offers no significant
benefit over a mainstream Linux distribution like Fedora or Mint.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

XPost: alt.comp.os.windows-11

On 02/07/25 8:36 am, % wrote:

Not Necessary wrote:

On 02/07/25 6:14 am, Lawrence D'Oliveiro wrote:

Another alternative to running Windows is to get a Chromebook. These
are purpose-built for many business/educational needs, and because
they run on a Linux kernel, there is even the option (officially
provided by Google now, I believe) to put on a regular Linux distro
side-by-side with the locked-down Chrome OS.

This review
<https://www.zdnet.com/article/this-lenovo-chromebook-easily-
replaced-my-windows-laptop-for-work-and-i-cant-go-back/>
is interesting not just because the title says they are so impressed
they can’t be bothered going back to Windows, but also note that the
laptop in question is running an ARM chip.

Now, the claim that this is “the first ARM chip to appear in a
Chromebook” is wrong, I’m pretty sure. I recall some ARM-based
offerings in the early days of ChromeOS, which I think disappeared
because they didn’t (at the time) offer any compelling advantage over
x86-based machines.

Note also that this ARM chip is from one of the dozens (hundreds?) of
ARM chip makers that are not Qualcomm. These chips run Linux fine, but
as for Windows-on-ARM, I wouldn’t waste my time.

Except for Android app integration, Chrome OS offers no significant
benefit over a mainstream Linux distribution like Fedora or Mint.

yes it does

How is using browser-only OS, especially one built and locked down by an advertising company such as Google who openly steals your data is better
than using an open-ended Linux distribution?

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

XPost: alt.comp.os.windows-11

On Wed, 2 Jul 2025 00:44:14 -0000 (UTC), Lawrence D'Oliveiro wrote:

Another alternative to running Windows is to get a Chromebook. These are purpose-built for many business/educational needs, and because they run
on a Linux kernel, there is even the option (officially provided by
Google now, I believe) to put on a regular Linux distro side-by-side
with the locked-down Chrome OS.

It runs Debian in a container. It's similar to WSL without the choice of flavors.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

XPost: alt.comp.os.windows-11

rbowman <bowman@montana.com> wrote at 03:54 this Wednesday (GMT):

On Wed, 2 Jul 2025 00:44:14 -0000 (UTC), Lawrence D'Oliveiro wrote:

Another alternative to running Windows is to get a Chromebook. These are
purpose-built for many business/educational needs, and because they run
on a Linux kernel, there is even the option (officially provided by
Google now, I believe) to put on a regular Linux distro side-by-side
with the locked-down Chrome OS.

It runs Debian in a container. It's similar to WSL without the choice of flavors.

There is a way to flash a Linux distro over the whole thing, but it
requires you to go into debug mode, I believe.
--
user <candycane> is generated from /dev/urandom

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)